Let’s go fishin’: Fishing updates from around the state

It’s a busy time of year for anglers.
Trout season opened April 27, the last Saturday of the month, and local waters may see trout fishing pick up as Loch Lomond receives its first plant of the season. There is also a quarantine on shellfish that started earlier in the year than normal.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced strong prospects for the spring trout opener in the eastern Sierras.
Trout fishing should be favorable for many reasons, including heavy planting programs and low snowpack. While the long-term impact of the lack of snow is a negative, the spring runoff will be light and streams will not be too high to fish, as has happened in some years past.
The April 27 opener saw low water conditions in the entire June Loop area, and Crowley Lake and the greater Bridgeport area are all ice-free. Rock Creek and Virginia Lakes still have ice on the surface.
Fish and Game reminds anglers to have licenses if over you’re older than 16 and to abide by local regulations.
Loch Lomond — which features great shore access and boats for rent — received its first plant of trout last week. This may be one of two programs that will bring sterile rainbow trout to the reservoir. This comes as great news for those who love this location. It might even boost the bass bite, as they move to the shallows to spawn and possibly feed on trout.
Another stock of trout should come during May.
Another item that came to my attention is a quarantine for mussels. It usually starts May 1 and runs through Oct. 31.
The warm months cause an increase in domoic acid and algae that create toxins in these shellfish. The California Department of Public Health warns that there is no known antidote for the toxins that can cause severe illness, coma or death. The toxins are not destroyed by cooking the shellfish.
Commercially harvested shellfish are inspected and certified and are not at risk of the toxins. More information can be found at www.cdph.ca.gov or by calling 800-553-4133.
Happy spring fishing!
– Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 20 years. Contact him at

ca************@ya***.com











. He also hosts a fishing show on radio station KSCO (1080) from 8:06 to 9 p.m. Thursdays April through the end of August.